Spring-latch.



- Patented Nov. 7', I899, A. B. DOCKERY.

SPRING LATCH.

(Application filed Aug. 15, 1899.

(No Model.)

lNVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

ALLEN B. DOCKERY, OF UVALDE, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO D. R. WINGATE, OF SAME PLACE.-

SPRING-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,502, dated November '7, 1899. Application filed August 15, 1899. Serial No. 727,274. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: The latch automatically engages the latch- Be it known that I, ALLEN B. DOOKERY, bar when the gate is shut, and the gate may a citizen of the United States, residing at be freed by pressing or springing the latch to Uvalde, in the county of Uvalde and State of one side.

5 Texas, have invented certain new and useful Fig. 4 shows a latch like that of Fig. 4 ex- Improvements in Spring-Latches, of which cept that it has a coil-spring c in each side the following is a specification. bar 19. 5,

This invention relates to the class of latches The latch L (seen in Figs. 5 and 6) is situadapted for use on farm-gates, yard-gates, ated on the inner face of the post P and bero barn-doors, and the like. It is made from tween said post and the gate-stile s. It has stiff wire, preferably of spring-steel, and is a hinging-eye d formed in one of its side bars, adapted to catch by wiping overa beveled or and this bar hinges at said eye on a staple g, rounded latch-bar on the gate, door, or other driven into the face of the post. The spring hinged part when the latter is closed. 0 is back of the post. Only the side bar in r 5 In the accompanying drawings, which diswhich is formed the spring 0 has a securing close several embodiments and applications branch e, the other bar terminating in a hanof the invention, Figure 1 is a front view dle h, wherebythe latch may be freed from showing the latch applied to a closed farm the latch bar from inside of the gate. The gate. Fig. 2 is a view of the same as seen dotted lines in Fig. 5 show how this may be 20 from the left in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 shows the done.

same parts in plan. In this latter view the Obviously when the latch is applied to a dotted lines show the gate partly open. Fig. gate or door where there is a bar or piece over 7o 4shows the latch of Figs. 1, 2, and 3 detached, the opening the latch may be placed above, and Fig. 4 shows the latch with a coil-spring so as to take over the upper end of the latch- 2 5 at each side. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a form ing-stile or over the end of a latch-bar fixed of the latch as best adapted to a yard-gate, in an upright position. It has not been although it may be as well applied to any gate deemed necessary to illustrate any other obor hinged part. Fig. 5 is a plan and Fig. 6 vious applications of the latch. is a face View of the latching-post seen from The object is to provide a simple, durable, 0 the arrow as in Fig. 5. and inexpensive latch that cannot well be dis- Referring to the first four figures primaengaged by cattle or become accidentally disrily, G represents any kind of gate, P the engaged, but which may be readily operated 8e latching post of the gate, and B a fixed latchby any one. bar on the gate. This. bar has a rounded or Having thus described my invention, I 5 beveled end, as seen in Fig. 3. On the post c1ain1-- P is mounted the spring-latch L. This latch 1. As an improved article of manufacture, will be made, by preference, of stiff steel wire a bail-like spring-latch made from wire and of bail-like form and comprises an end bar at, having an end bar, side bars, a securing Fig. 4, two side bars I) b, a coil-spring c in branch or branches,andacoil-springin itsjside 0 one of the side bars, a hinge-link d in the between theattaching-point andend bar, subother side bar, and securing branches 6 e. It stantially as set forth. is not important just how this latch is secured 2. As an improved article of manufacture, 0 to the latching-post P so long as it is firmly a bail-like spring-latch made from wire and fixed. The side bars 6 b maybe slightly curved, having an end bar, two side bars, a coil-spring 45 as shown in Figs. 3Vand 4, and the end bar a in one of said side bars, a hinge at the other may have formed in it a thumb-piece a, as side bar, and a securing branch or branches, seen in Fig. 2, for convenience'in pressingthe substantially as set forth. latch to one side for opening the gate. 3. As an improved article of manufacture,

a spring-latch made from steel wire and bent my name, this 31st day of July, 1899, in the into shape, said latch comprising an end bar, presence of two subscribing witnesses.

two side bars one of which is provided with a hinging-eye and a handle, and the other ALLEN DOOKERY' 5 with a coil-spring and an attaching branch, Witnesses:

substantially as set forth. CLARENCE W. HARPER,

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed WVILLIAM WALL. 

